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Today's Race - 1987 Helsinki World Games Men's 10000 m



Takeyuki Nakayama breaks Toshihiko Seko's 10000 m national record by almost 7 seconds with a 27:35.33 at the 1987 Helsinki World Games. This race was well into Nakayama's marathon career and rivalry with Seko, the golden boy of Japanese athletics. After Nakayama broke Seko's marathon PB the media said, "Well, that's great, but he doesn't have Seko's track speed." This race was the direct result of that.

Famous for front running marathons at world record pace, it's really noticeable how disciplined and businesslike Nakayama was in this race, holding back until 7000 m, where he tied Seko's national record split, before opening up. It's one of the great examples of a race powered purely by negative energy.

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